Terms

Question 1

Embolus

Answer 1

a blood clot or a bolus of air developed in or introduced into a blood vessel that moves from its place of origin and is capable of obstructing blood circulation

Question 2

Cannula

Answer 2

a tube inserted into a vessel, duct, or cavity

Question 3

catheter hub

Answer 3

the “handle” of an intravenous catheter, the part that allows access to the catheter’s lumen for a variety of functions, such as the injection or infusion of fluids or drugs or the introduction of a guide wire

Question 4

drip chamber

Answer 4

the portion of an intravenous administration set that lies just below the tubing insertion spike and allows visualization of the individual drops of solution being infused; the portion squeezed and released to begin the flow of solution immediately after insertion of the spike into the solution bag or bottle when preparing an intravenous infusion set

Question 5

flash chamber

Answer 5

the portion of an over-the-needle catheter that allows observation of a blood return when the catheter enters a vein

Question 6

fluid volume deficit

Answer 6

loss of both water and electrolytes from the extracellular fluid; also called hypovolemia

Question 7

heparin lock

Answer 7

an intravenous catheter inserted into a vein and left in place for the intermittent administration of medication through its port or as an open line for emergency situations and intermittently flushed with a heparin solution to maintain patency

Question 8

hypertonic

Answer 8

referring to a solution that has a higher osmolarity than body fluids have

Question 9

hypotonic

Answer 9

referring to a solution that has a lower osmolarity than body fluids have

Question 10

infiltration

Answer 10

seepage or introduction of fluid, such as intravenous fluid, into the tissues surrounding a blood vessel; similar to extravasation

Question 11

infusion

Answer 11

slow, intentional introduction of fluid into a vein

Question 12

infusion pump

Answer 12

device that delivers intravenous fluids via positive pressure at a specific preset rate

Question 13

injection cap

Answer 13

a rubber cap attached to the end of an intervenous catheter or extension tubing to allow access to the blood vessel for injecting fluid

Question 14

injection port

Answer 14

a small, covered, branched portion of intravenous tubing configured as a place to inject medication or fluid into the infusing solution

Question 15

intravascular

Answer 15

within a blood vessel

Question 16

introducer needle

Answer 16

the needle inside an over-the-needle catheter used to pierce the wall of a vein to initiate intravenous access that is withdrawn and discarded after the catheter is properly positioned within the vein

Question 17

isotonic

Answer 17

referring to a solution that has the same osmolarity as body fluids

Question 18

patent

Answer 18

open and unobstructed

Question 19

percutaneous

Answer 19

performed through the skin

Question 20

peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC)

Answer 20

a catheter used for long-term intravenous access and inserted in the basilic or cephalic vein just above or below the antecubital space with the tip of the catheter resting in the superior vena cava

Question 21

phlebitis

Answer 21

inflammation of a vein

Question 22

saline lock

Answer 22

an intravenous catheter inserted into a vein and left in place for the intermittent administration of medication through its port or as an open line for emergency situations and intermittently flushed with normal saline solution to maintain patency

Question 23

thrombosis

Answer 23

the formation or presence of a stationary blood clot within a blood vessel

Question 24

vascular access devise (VAD)

Answer 24

an umbrella term that includes a variety of catheters, cannulas, and infusion ports that allow intermittent or continuous access to a bloo

Question 25

venipuncture

Answer 25

inserting a needle into a vein to withdraw blood samples or to establish ongoing access to a vein

Question 26

viscosity

Answer 26

resistance to flow; a physical property of a substance that varies with the friction of its component molecules as they slide past one another